Whether the business proposal involves a startup or an expansion, the business planning process still involves many factors. We can help!

A good business plan will provide management with an understanding of forthcoming cash flow deficiencies—in advance—and allow for anticipation of financing requirements. Lawlor & Associates can help you find investors (or source good business investments).

Lawlor & Associates are frequently called upon to provide contract services in areas such as: Management of Change; Financing; Training; Marketing and Development Programs; Information Technology requirements, etc. We also have experience with group facilitation.

Good marketing studies, which we can provide, allow the entrepreneur to reduce risk, increasing the likelihood of getting financing for a project. We also offer due diligence services to investors wishing to evaluate the merits of business investments.

We are Lawlor & Associates Consultants Inc.

Founded in the year 1995.

Lawlor & Associates Consultants Inc. offers consulting services to both the public and private sectors. Building on experiences gained over a 20-year career as a North Bay municipal politician and a 35-year academic career at Nipissing University, Stan Lawlor has developed a pragmatic, consultative approach, which focuses upon building capacity within the client organization. His own experience at formulating, organizing, and implementing projects is a key component of our success.

The LAC team keeps current on public programs and private opportunities available to companies, for purposes such as: retention; expansion; turnarounds; and downsizing. Lawlor & Associates has worked with hundreds of clients, ranging in size from 3 staff to more than 300 employees. We are complemented by contract personnel, with whom we maintain strategic alliances. These resources are available to offer specialized services for various projects.

During the process of preparing your business plan, Lawlor & Associates personnel work closely with you in a consultative manner, to ensure that the plan is your plan and that it accurately reflects your vision for your business.

Start-Ups and Expansions

Lawlor & Associates has experience in both startups and expansions. Typically, startups are more challenging, especially if the proponents do not have a track record of success in previous ventures. This makes the process of developing a detailed business plan all the more important.

While expansions are typically easier to work with, investors, banks and government officials always want to know about the historical operations of the business and its financial performance. This makes the three to five years prior to the expansion critical ones for the entrepreneur.

Strategic Planning

In the development of a Strategic Plan, the process is even more important than the product. The planning process involves five stages:

Plan

Implement

Evaluate

Celebrate

Replan

In most organizations, Strategic Planning is most effective when a consultant or "change agent" is involved in bringing a fresh perspective to the situation.

Investment Profiles

Investment Profiles are used to present an investment opportunity to potential investors in a succinct manner. Typically they extract material from the business plan, and provide the reader with information on the projected Return on Investment (ROI) based on a set of assumptions that are more clearly detailed in the business plan.

Financing

Typically, businesses tend to wait until the day that they need money to seek it. A good business plan will provide management with an understanding of forthcoming cash flow deficiencies in advance, and allow for anticipation of financing requirements. Such planning will have beneficial impacts on rates and terms, allowing the company to optimize outcomes.

Management Support

Small and medium sized businesses frequently lack the personnel required to deal with all challenges that they face in the course of their development. Lawlor & Associates are frequently called upon to provide contract services in areas such as: Management of Change; Financing; Training; Marketing and Development Programs; Information Technology requirements; etc.

Group Facilitation

Lawlor & Associates has extensive experience in the area of group facilitation, built on the experience of Stan D. Lawlor, who in addition to teaching courses and seminars at the university level for the past 38 years, served as Mayor of the City of North Bay for half of his twenty year political career. As well, our company has conducted surveys, key person interviews, community consultations, focus group sessions and strategic planning sessions for a variety of clients

Marketing Studies

A combination of existing demographic data, competitive analyses, and original market research, allows Lawlor & Associates personnel to provide clients with an assessment of the merits of a business proposal.

Due Diligence

Lawlor & Associates Consultants Inc. offers due diligence services to investors wishing to evaluate the merits of business investments. Due diligence activities include a complete review of the business plan, an onsite visit, interviews with the proponent(s) and an analysis of many additional components including:

Corporate Organization

Product/Service Offerings

Market Assessment

Competitive Analysis

Marketing Strategies

Management

Employee Relations

Historical Financial Statements

Financial Projections

Tax Status

Operating Data

Litigation Exposure

Property and Equipment Analysis

Insurance Issues

Other Issues

Prior to making a recommendation, Lawlor & Associates provides a complete report to the prospective investor, identifying the risks and opportunities associated with the investment.

Stan D. Lawlor

Stan is a retired Associate Professor of Sociology at Nipissing University. This experience, combined with a 20-year career in municipal politics, provides him with keen insights into the problems faced by businesses and organizations, as they strive to adapt to rapidly changing conditions.

Sean Lawlor

In 1995 Sean co-founded Lawlor and Associates Consultants Inc. For the past 18 years, the company has provided consulting services to dozens of municipalities, businesses and not-for-profit organizations throughout Ontario in a range of areas.